Friday 5 October 2012

Hands...

It takes commitment to wear two hands full of rings, especially in my field of work but man I love it!! 

Image via. Tobacco&Leather

Saturday 11 August 2012

Must Have Madewell...

Over the last year or so I have been sporadically admiring Madewell's scrumptious garments via the blogosphere. The thing is is that I am not in a position - financially or geographically - to buy into the brand. Doesn't mean I can't continue to crush on it in this short, sweet and stylishly delicious video featuring Solange Knowles. 



Have I ever mentioned that I wish to one day wake up with an afro just like Solange's?? Well, believe it!

Tuesday 31 July 2012

La Sagrada Familia by Gaudi

I have a few friends who are architects and I have always appreciated their passion for design and their extraordinary work ethic. I am clearly not an architect. While I can appreciate beautiful buildings and I have an ongoing obsession with Victorian architecture (when I'm rich and famous I WILL own a Victorian home in Toronto and Melbourne, respectively), I cannot for the most part get in on their excitement. 

Gaudi is a name that was referred to often when discussing the connection between architecture and fashion but again, I never really jumped on that inspirational bandwagon. That is, of course, until now. Andy over at Style Scrapbook did me a big favour (not personally of course but I'm not discounting the possibility of one day becoming her friend... and no, I'm not a stalker) by taking some amazing snaps inside Gaudi's 'La Sagrada Familia' - an iconic church in Barcelona. She describes its aesthetic as appearing to be "... inside a spaceship meets The Never Ending Story ivory tower." Personally, I'm getting a pretty major 'drenched with sunlight Pans Labyrinth' vibe. I like it....









Images via. Style Scrapbook

Tuesday 24 July 2012

The Sum Of This Equation Is Delectable...

I have a stash of fabulous imagery stewing away in my 'BLOG' folder for the day when I once again feel the need to share it. Until then, however, here's a scrumptious image supplied by the ever concise and always stylish Scott Schumann over at The Sartorialist will have to tide me/you over. 

Image via. The Sartorialist


No one can deny the cyclical nature of the fashion industry when you see this vintage beauty, that's for sure.

Wednesday 20 June 2012

W.O.W...

I have followed Karla's Closet avidly for some time now. She doesn't over post and I can't remember ever running into any of the painfully repetitive re-posting that so many bloggers (myself included) fall victim to AND she has the most perfectly vintage-sprinkled style! She was also a big inspiration to me when I shaved my head as she rocks the pixi cut like nobody's business. Clearly I admire Karla's blog and style a fair bit. I also admire her bod... I mean really?!!! Carrie Bradshaw could NOT have done this dress better.

Josephine dress by Shareen worn at the Roman Luxe X Revolve party

Victims Of Beauty?...

Bulgarian publication 12 Magazine recently shot a rather interesting beauty feature - Victim of Beauty - that seems to have many in an anti-violence-against-women uproar. Personally, I wonder if they might be taking everything a bit too seriously. The editorial features a surprising and thought provoking combination of perfectly made-up models sporting rather gruesome and seemingly realistic injuries ranging from a black eye to a slashed throat. Obviously this concept was intended to get chins a wagin' but when a commenter on Fashionista's blog go so far as to say "Yup whoever did this hates women..."it strikes me as simply an interpretation on face value (no pun intended)... I'm not going to lie, the faux injuries really are horrendously life like and a little bit sickening if you think of them too literally but it is my opinion that we should be kudos-ing the skills of the makeup artist's instead of complaining about the supposed intentions and underlying 'message' of the editorial. Seriously, it's entirely possible that the minds and hands behind these images just wanted to see what they could do with such a dichotomous concept. Maybe they didn't feel like producing yet another beauty editorial where the model poses mouth open and hands resembling the stiffness of Barbie's. 

We are all entitled to our opinions and we each feel about these images something unique and individual so I'm not saying that the nay-sayer's are wrong to believe, feel and say what they have about 'Victim of Beauty'. I just want to make sure that everyone takes a deep breath, calms down and stops getting all worked up over something that is clearly a work of skill and creativity that is built upon a concept that insights both SHOCK and AWE.

Who really knows though... Maybe it was a statement for/against violence against women. I certainly don't believe in violence against ANYONE. 

A comment from another Fashionista reader Lindsey Schuyler - "Why do you automatically jump to domestic violence? Why assume women can’t get injured on their own? I think it’s a really interesting shoot, the contrast of what can be done with makeup is pretty amazing, it’s like two worlds of special effects colliding."

THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE SHOCKING AND MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SQUEEMISH OR YOUNGENS...







 

Friday 15 June 2012

Anouncing An Anouncement That Has Already Been Anounced...

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M - coming to (hopefully) an H&M near ME in November!!! This may be the one an only time that you will see me in line with the hoards of other Margiela-must-havers before the stores have opened. And it will be worth it...


Thursday 14 June 2012

More Is More, Is More, Is More...

On Monday, I bought a bike and today I had a meeting with a rather talented film maker/photographer. The two are mostly unrelated except that I rode my new bike to our get-together. Clearly I love my new bike... Luckily I am also very happy with the outcome of the meeting. Two from two! Stephen Hargreaves and are planning to shoot a creative together and with the air heavy with excitement and anticipation I peddled my little legs off so as to get home and get a-researchin'. Thankfully for me, doing research is often aided by my wonderfully creatively inclined friends and this time around a fellow Fashion grad brought a dazzlingly shoot to my attention.

Masha Reva, the creator of the fabulous garments (and I assume, the props as well) notes her interest in merging with "the boundless informational field that is internet." This collection culminates her graduating year from the Kiev University of Technology and Design. It really is a most wonderful investigation of the "confrontation between natural and artificial..." More to the point though the concept has bred a visual feast of a photo shoot. Kudos to photographer Synchrodogs, stylist Julie Pelipas and hair/makeup artist Helen Khodos for bringing the concept and collection together in such a beautiful set of images. 






Check out the behind the scenes video at Fashion Served and more on Masha Reva at http://www.mashareva.com/main/ - including design experimentation, videos and lots more fun and creatively informative tid-bits.

Saturday 2 June 2012

A Long Time Between Posts...

It seems I have been on an unintentional hiatus from the blogging arena. Unfortunately for my ego, this affects no one but me. The inspiration that has brought me out of my dissemination slump is the Madewell Fall 2012 lookbook. This is odd because as of 4 months ago I became a professional stylist which ultimately means I spend an awful lot of time shopping. I see clothes all day every day and one might assume that this would make my fascination for them slightly less lustrous. Alas, no. I still love them, want to buy them, touch them and admire them.

So here goes... Admire away.







Images via Because I'm Addicted

Thursday 29 March 2012

Shourouk Rhaiem...

I love that when reading the miniature snippet on Honestly WTF about jewellery designer-of-your-dreams Shourouk Rhaiem, the mention of traditional embroidery followed by Swarovski crystal didn't seem at all odd or miss matched. No wonder, seeing as these mystical jewels made for the fantastical Princess in every woman (and some men) make so much sense! Throw in a few sequins, a coloured gem or two and even the odd length of perfectly dyed rope and you have yourself a statement making piece of art work around your neck, or you wrist, or dripping from your lobes, or 'clutched' in your hand... And to top off this visual feast of scrumptious-ness, the styling of this shoot is AMAZING! Although, I would be more inclined to wear my (future) Rhaiem dream with a t-shirt and jeans - so as to let the sheer decadence of the piece speak for itself - there's something to be said for all-over lace and some full skirted metallic! Am I right or am I right?...





All images via. Honestly WTF
 

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Tickle My Fancy...

Ever since I got involved in the blog-following/blogging phenomenon I have been saving inspirational images from here and there. It started off serving as a visual shopping list, then moved into visual aids for home updates and now more than ever I am documenting the epic talent of all sorts of stylish stylist's. Most recently stylist's Sophie Barker for Fashion Gone Rogue and Eun Ji Jeong for Singles Korea magazine have taken my particular fancy.

In this shoot styled by Barker, the combination of androgynous layering and conservative collars (with just a hint of sportswear with those knee high, striped socks) is done to perfection. The whole shoot is edgy and totally fashionable but at no point do I feel like the clothes or the model are trying too hard. I genuinely dislike when one or the other ends up looking forced. It can be painful to view.

Truthfully, Barker has hit the nail on the head. I want to wear it all! I want to layer knits over brocade over gym socks. Well played Sophie Barker, well played. 






Images via. The Electric

As for Eun Ji Jeong, extreme eclecticism where tribal meets high fashion isn't usually my cup of herbal, caffine-free tea but, holy balls is this shoot is a winner!!! There's pumpkins, ombre hair and a knee-length cable knit over a red gown. It's a visual feast of colour, texture, layers and genres. I'm overwhelmed but not by the sheer number of references but by the near-perfect beauty of the shoot. 

This type of shoot is one which, I fear, would be seriously difficult for me to pull off. Not that I doubt my mad skills. It's just that this kind of styling is so hard to get right. I see a lot of layer laden editorials that force me to look away for fear of tearing up at the site of someone attempting something beyond their capabilities. 10 points for trying and more power to those stylists with gigantic balls! But for now, I will marvel in the risks taken by others until the day comes when I too have the balls to try this out...   







Image source unknown. Editorial featured in Singles Korea Magazine - January 2012

When Two 'Worlds' Collide...

I had an interesting run in, so to speak, with a God fearing man via one of my favourite sites today - StyleLikeU. Admittedly and for the most part, I would not equate religion with fashion but in this case, the two really do go hand in hand. 

William Whitcombe is a Chaplain at the University of Arts in London and if you pay attention to his aesthetic, he clearly is a 'colourful' character - pun intended! 

In a wonderful way, Whitcombe admits that his love of colours, both clashing and in general, was born from too much time spent in a grey school uniform. This makes sense. For me, the colour wheel spun the other way. I spent 6 years in a lime green school dress and, unsurprisingly, I tend to shy away from garments of the bright persuasion. 

This man really is an inspiration to me. He is re-enforcing my faith in fashion as an emotional connection to the outside world and a creative outlet that both appeals to and benefits more than those supposedly frivolous 'fashionista's' in Paris, London, New York and Milan. I also just love that a man, church goer or not, is paying attention to his aesthetics outside of the fashion scene. 


I'm going to show this short film to my boyfriend. He'll LOVE it! 


William Whitcombe << StyleLikeU 










All images via. StyleLikeU